Since the groups will be split (3 / 4 until we get another person joining regularly) then we will rely upon hirelings. Usually we go with cleric or favored soul hirelings. That seems to work all the way up to about level 16 quests, even on elite.

So I think ANY configuration will work up to we hit the Vale as long as we have a trapper in each group.

I bard is certainly a good option because he can do crowd control, healing and melee too. Regardless of that I think that people should play classes they enjoy. We can manage most combinations since we are TR's with decent gear waiting for us in the reincarnation cache. So no need to play a class you don't like just to suit the group. We will manage regardless of the choice, as we always do.